Rail-joint.



E. S. BRIGGS.

RAIL JOINT.

ABBLIOATION FILED JUNE 20, 1914.

1,125,453, Patented Jan. 19,1915.

Elwvwim E -S @Fel'ees EARL SIMON BRIGGS, 0F IBINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

RAIL-JOINT.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

Application filed June 20, 1914. Serial No. 846,371.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EARL SIMON BRIGGS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county ofBroome and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rail- Joints, of which the following is aspecification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rail joints andmore particularly to means for connecting the ends of two rails toretain the sameagainst lateral or longitudinal movement, the main objectof the present invention being the provision of a joint bar arranged atthe intersection of the rail ends, whereby to eliminate the clickingnoise of the wheels, while passing over the ends of the rails and, atthe same time, securely connect the rail ends and retain them againstlateral or longitudinal movement. 7

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device ofthe above character which will possess advantages in points ofefiiciency and durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and, at thesame time, is simple in construction and operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts aswill be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in thespecification and claim.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure lis a detail perspective view of a rail joint constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a top planview. Fig. 3 is a detailperspective view of one of the rail ends. Fig. 4 is a side elevation;and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the main securing plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 and 2 indicate the meetingends of two rails and it will be noted that the balls of the rails, atthe ends thereof are cutaway to provide a sloping face, as shown at 3,which tapers inwardly toward the ends of the rails and the taperingportion eX- tends over the top of the web of the rails, at the outer endthereof, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be noted that byhaving that tapering portion extending in this manner, the upper face ofthe web of the rail provides a support for the upper portion of theangle bar 4, which is formed to coincide with the rails and the inneredge thereof is provided with a tapering side portion adapted to restupon the upper faces of the webs of the rails formed by the cutting ofthe ball of the rail away, as shown at 3. The angle bar 4 is adapted tofit tightly against the sloping portions of the rails so as to form asmooth surface at each of the joints. It will be noted that the webportions 6 of the plates or bars 4 fit tightly against the web portionsof the rail ends and are secured thereto by means of the transversebolts 7 which extend transversely through the web portions of the ba is4 and through the web portions of the m1 s.

Arranged upon the opposite side of the rail ends, from the plate 4, is asecond angular plate 8, the upper longitudinal edge of which is disposedbeneath the balls of the rail ends and is adapted to fit tightly againstthe webs of the rail ends and securely held. in position by means of thebolts 7. The horizontal portions of the plates 4 and 8 are adapted toextend outwardly upon the base of the rails and are securely held inposition by driven into the ties to securely retain the rails againstmovement. be apparent that the rail ends 1 and 2 may be quickly andreadily connected together or disconnected, when desired and by formingthe upper portion ofthe plate 4 sub stantially coincident with the ballsof the rails, it will provide a smooth surface and the device is of suchlength that the weight of the wheels of the ears passing thereover willbear upon the same and distribute the weight between the rail ends andthe plate 4.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it will be readily apparent that I have provided a simple anddurable rail jointwhereby the meeting ends of two rails may be quicklyand readily connected together and whereby one of the fish plates isprovided with an upper portion coincident with the balls of the railsand is adapted to fit snugly within the sloping portions of the railends to provide a continuous joint and in order to provide greaterrigidity to the plates 4 and 8, the strut portions 10 are provided andare arranged in spaced relation from one end of the plates to the other.It will means of the spikes 9 which are a From this it will be apparentthat my improved rail joint can be manufactured and placed 7 upon themarket at a comparatively low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, itwill be obvious that various changes in the details ofic'onstruction andin the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying myinvention into practice Withoutsacrificing any of the novel features ordeparting from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appendedclaim.

H ving thus described this invention, hat I claim is I A device of theclass described including the meeting ends of two rails, said railshaving the ball portions thereof tapering at their: ends from one "sideof the Web to the opposite side thereof, whereby the upper edgeoff theeb of the rail provides a supporting shoulder, a fish plate having anin'vvardly extending longitudinal portion adapted to fit between thebase of the rails "and the ball portions thereof, whereby to thereof andarranged inspaced relation, 7 V

and bolts extending transversely through the rail ends and the baseplate, whereby to rigidly secure the plates to the rails.

In testimony whereof hereunto affix my signature in the presence of twowit nesses. V

L EARL BRIGGS. Witnesses: r

Copies of this patent may be ohtainedfor five cents each, by addressingthe f Commissioner of Batents.

WaShi g m-V l

